Search Results

< Back 63 Community Organizing Groups from Across Massachusetts Endorse Fair Share Amendment to Invest in Transportation and Public Education Jun 27, 2022 BOSTON – Fair Share for Massachusetts, the campaign working to pass the Fair Share Amendment, the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million which would raise billions of dollars to invest in transportation and public education, today announced the endorsement of 63 community organizing groups from across the state. BOSTON – Fair Share for Massachusetts, the campaign working to pass the Fair Share Amendment, the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million which would raise billions of dollars to invest in transportation and public education, today announced the endorsement of 63 community organizing groups from across the state. “As a parent, I want my daughter to have great public schools and a well-rounded education. As a Quincy resident, I see how crumbling roads and the underfunded MBTA are creating unnecessary challenges for my neighbors. And as a community advocate, I've talked to so many people throughout Massachusetts who are struggling to get by, while the super rich get even richer,” said Lily Huang, Co-Director of Mass. Jobs with Justice . “The Fair Share Amendment will help improve our schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and transit, and only the very rich will pay more. Massachusetts communities desperately need a steady investment in this vital infrastructure so that families can live and work – not just surviving day by day, but flourishing as we invest in ourselves.” The 63 community organizing groups include statewide organizations focused on economic opportunity, immigrant rights, and racial justice; regional community groups covering Franklin County, the Merrimack Valley, the Mystic Valley, the South Shore, the Upper Cape, and Western Mass; and local community groups from cities and towns including Acton, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Cambridge, Concord, Dedham, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Needham, Northampton, Norwood, Watertown, Westford, Westwood, and Woburn. “The Massachusetts economy is working great for those at the top, but in the South Coast, working people are really struggling. Our region constantly gets the short end of the stick, while the rich just keep getting richer,” said Dax Crocker, a Program Coordinator for the Coalition for Social Justice . “With the Fair Share Amendment, 99% of us won't pay more, and we'll all benefit from fewer potholes on our roads, more resources for our public schools, better bus service in our communities, and lower tuitions at our public colleges. That's a win-win for the South Coast, and a win-win for Massachusetts.” “When we table for the Fair Share Amendment in Dedham, Westwood, and Norwood, we're delighted by the nearly unanimous support for the proposed tax on multi-millionaires to fund transportation and public education," said Leslie Greffenius, a member of the Steering Committee for Neponset Valley Progressives . "People in our neighborhoods are excited that the Fair Share Amendment's passage will raise the funds we need to equalize educational opportunities and repair and electrify our public transportation infrastructure.” “Passing the Fair Share Amendment would make a meaningful step toward racial equity in our community by directly supporting the families who need it the most,” said Natalia Restrepo, Civic Engagement Coordinator for La Colaborativa and a mother of 2 from Chelsea . “This amendment will not only have a direct impact on the wellbeing of our community today, but will pay dividends for years to come by giving our families the tools and support they need to make meaningful progress in their lives. From the roads that bring our families to work to the schools that nurture our children, the Fair Share Amendment offers an immediate opportunity to build the capacity of the Chelsea community to continue to grow and thrive.” “I am delighted the SJC saw through the plaintiffs' flimsy argument and removed the last roadblock to putting this important measure on the ballot. It's been a long time coming!,” said Jeanne Kempthorne, chair of the Berkshires Fair Share Committee and member of the leadership of Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts . “Cities and towns from Williamstown to Lee in the Berkshires have endorsed the Fair Share Amendment because voters know how much we need this funding to improve public education, repair roads and bridges, and make sustained investments in public transit. And they know that in a commonwealth, those that have more should contribute more.” “Mass-Care: the Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care supports the Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign’s historic thrust to make multimillionaires pay taxes at a higher rate for education and transportation,” said Jon Weissman, Co-Chair of Mass-Care . “The people are the source of those multimillions and the people should share in them.” “Progressive WROX/ROZ is a proud supporter of the Fair Share Amendment,” said Nina Lev of Progressive WROX/ROZ . “We have been talking to our neighbors at the farmers' market and other community events and finding widespread support for this plan to use taxes from those who have done extremely well in the current economy to fund education and transportation. Both are in need of funding and contribute greatly to the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents.” The community organizing groups join more than 215 organizations and thousands of activists across the state who are working together to win the Fair Share Amendment on the ballot. After years of grassroots advocacy, the state Legislature voted in June 2021 to place the Fair Share Amendment on the November 2022 statewide ballot, where it is now set to be decided on by the voters. The full list of endorsing community organizing groups is below, and a full list of all the organizations that have endorsed the Fair Share Amendment is available at fairsharema.com/endorsements . Previous Next

< Back Greenfield Recorder: Supports Fair Share Amendment Virginia (Jinx) Hastings Mar 31, 2022 Many high income households have paid less (percentage-wise) than most of us pay in state and federal Taxes. Supports Fair Share Amendment (Source / original) Math lesson. A million in seconds is about 12 days. A billion in seconds is about 32 years. Massachusetts has approximately 20,000 households earning over a million dollars and 34 billionaires. Please consider voting for the Fair Share Amendment in Massachusetts in November. Many high income households have paid less (percentage-wise) than most of us pay in state and federal Taxes. The Fair Share Amendment would be a change in our Massachusetts Constitution to create a 4% increase in taxes for people earning over one million dollars annually. This revenue would be spent on education and maintenance of public roads, bridges and transportation. Do the math. Four percent of a million dollar income (or more) is _____, then multiply by 20,000-plus high income earners in Massachusetts, then, add the billionaires income. The wealthiest in our commonwealth can easily afford to pay more, the payback in education and infrastructure is a benefit to all. Virginia (Jinx) Hastings Previous Next

Resources Most Home Sales Will Not Likely Lead to Fair Share Tax Payments La-Brina Almeida, MassBudget READ THE REPORT “Millionaire Tax” Would Make Massachusetts Tax System Fairer Kurt Wise, MassBudget READ THE REPORT BAY STATE BILLIONAIRES: Massachusetts billionaires’ wealth surges 46 percent during the pandemic Chuck Collins and Omar Ocampo, Institute for Policy Studies READ THE REPORT With “Millionaire Tax,” Massachusetts’ Top Tax Rate Would Compare Well to Top Rates in Other States Kurt Wise, MassBudget READ THE REPORT A “Millionaire Tax” Would Advance Racial Justice in Massachusetts Kurt Wise, MassBudget READ THE REPORT The Fair Share Amendment Helps Small Businesses Phineas Baxandall, MassBudget READ THE REPORT Most Home Sales Will Not Likely Lead to Fair Share Tax Payments La-Brina Almeida, MassBudget READ THE REPORT Fair Share Tax on Incomes Over $1 Million Would Generate at Least $2 Billion a Year Kurt Wise, MassBudget READ THE REPORT The Three E’s: Greater Transportation Funding Can Improve the Economy, Equity, and Environment Phineas Baxandall, MassBudget READ THE REPORT A Bridge Too Far: Sagging Investment Leaves 644 Massachusetts Bridges Structurally Deficient Hallah Elbeleidy and Phineas Baxandall, MassBudget READ THE REPORT Massachusetts Infrastructure Report Card American Society of Civil Engineers READ THE REPORT Ready to Move in Massachusetts: A Blueprint for Delivering Major Transportation Projects Through the Biden Infrastructure Plan Tom Ryan, A Better City READ THE REPORT A Millionaire Tax is Necessary to Advance Critical Education Investments in Massachusetts Colin Jones, MassBudget READ THE REPORT Public Higher Education: Underfunded, Unaffordable, & Unfair Bahar Akman Imboden, Hildreth Institute READ THE REPORT Massachusetts’ Disinvestment in Higher Education: A Closer Look at State Aid, Tuition Rates, and Student Debt Hildreth Institute READ THE REPORT An Economic Analysis of Investment in Public Higher Education in Massachusetts Michael Ash and Shouvik Chakraborty READ THE REPORT COVID-19 Pandemic, Economic Recovery and the Need for Student Debt Cancellation in Massachusetts Anastasia C. Wilson READ THE REPORT The number of million-dollar earners in Mass. is soaring — here’s where they live Matt Rocheleau, Boston Globe READ THE REPORT These Mass. towns have the most million-dollar earners Boston25 READ THE REPORT

Stories The Fair Share Amendment is making an enormous difference for people all across Massachusetts. These are our stories. SHARE YOUR STORY

The Fair Share Amendment on the November ballot will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their Fair Share in taxes. Why Fair Share The case for the Fair Share Amendment The Breakdown The Fair Share Amendment is Question 1 on the November ballot. It will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4% tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require – in the state constitution – that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will pay more; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transportation. That's why so many people across Massachusetts are coming together to vote YES on 1: because with Question 1, we all win. As we recover from COVID, we need to make sure our public schools have everything they need for students to thrive. We need to end the educator and counselor shortages so that every student has the support they need. We need to help students get back on track from COVID disruptions and ensure that all students have access to a complete, well-rounded education. We need to repair our state’s backlog of hundreds of neglected and structurally dangerous bridges, roads, and trains. We need to make our public colleges affordable again so students can graduate without taking on enormous debt. And we need to increase access to vocational education as we rebuild our economy for working families. If we don’t address these problems now, they’ll only hold back our economy and hurt working families. It’s time for the very rich to pay their fair share so we can recover from the pandemic and rebuild a Massachusetts economy that’s stronger than ever. The bottom line: the Fair Share Amendment would only raise taxes on the top 1% of Massachusetts residents—those who earn more than a million dollars in a single year. It will make our tax system fairer while generating $2 billion a year, every year, that is constitutionally dedicated to transportation and public education. That’s why the Fair Share Amendment is crucial to our economy and our recovery from COVID-19: because it’s a win-win for all of us. Vote YES on 1 for a fair Massachusetts. Help us make that Massachusetts a reality. JOIN US The Breakdown The Amendment says... Article 44 of the Massachusetts Constitution is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph at the end thereof: To provide the resources for quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation, all revenues received in accordance with this paragraph shall be expended, subject to appropriation, only for these purposes. In addition to the taxes on income otherwise authorized under this Article, there shall be an additional tax of 4 percent on that portion of annual taxable income in excess of $1,000,000 (one million dollars) reported on any return related to those taxes. To ensure that this additional tax continues to apply only to the commonwealth’s highest income taxpayers, this $1,000,000 (one million dollars) income level shall be adjusted annually to reflect any increases in the cost of living by the same method used for federal income tax brackets. This paragraph shall apply to all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023. Read the Amendment Have questions about Question 1? Read the FAQ. FAQs Get everything you need to know about exactly how to vote Yes on 1. HOW TO VOTE YES ON 1 What this means... The Fair Share Amendment is a call for the richest Massachusetts residents to step up and pay their fair share in taxes. Our Commonwealth's economy is working great for those at the very top—now it's time for it to work for everyone. The Fair Share Amendment will require those making more than $1 million in a single year to pay their fair share in taxes—just 4¢ more on each dollar after their first million dollars a year. No one who makes under $1 million a year will pay a cent more. When millionaires and billionaires pay just 4¢ more on each dollar after $1 million, Massachusetts will raise $2 billion a year, every year, to invest in education and transportation. That $2 billion is constitutionally required to go only to education and transportation: our public schools from pre-K to college, roads, bridges, trains, and buses around the Commonwealth. With $2 billion a year, we can End the educator and counselor shortages in our schools Ensure all educators are paid the livable wages they deserve Give students, educators, and schools the resources they need Fix our crumbling bridges and pothole-filled roads Provide safe, reliable, and affordable public trains and buses statewide Ensure no one has to take on debt to get a college or vocational education. Vote YES on 1 to make that a reality. How will this impact Massachusetts? Will Fair Share improve education & transportation? I want to get involved! How can I help? READ THE BREAKDOWN READ THE FAQ JOIN US This November 8, we're coming together to vote YES on 1 and make the Massachusetts tax system fair. MORE STORIES JOIN US Join the movement for the Fair Share Amendment. JOIN US

Join us.

< Back New Report Shows That Question 1 Only Impacts Super-Rich Investors, Not 99% of Working People Jul 21, 2022 MassBudget Report Finds Most Surgeons, Dentists, Lawyers, and Programmers Wouldn’t Come Close to Paying More BOSTON – In response to a new report from the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center which found that people working in the highest-earning professions in the state still earn much less than a million dollars a year, the Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign today highlighted how Question 1 on the November ballot would require only the richest people in Massachusetts to pay more. “Question 1 would require those who earn more than $1 million in a single year to pay a little more, and constitutionally dedicate billions of dollars in new revenue to improving our schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and transit,” said Fair Share for Massachusetts Campaign Manager Jeron Mariani . “This new data shows that even some of the highest-paid workers in the state, like surgeons, dentists, lawyers, and programmers, wouldn’t come close to paying more under Question 1. When we vote Yes on Question 1 in November, super-rich investors will pay their fair share in state taxes, while 99 percent of taxpayers – people who work for a living – won’t pay anything more.” The Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center report analyzed the most current federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for Massachusetts, which tracks the average income received by workers in over 750 different occupational categories. They found that no occupation in Massachusetts has an average income anywhere near $1 million, with the highest paid occupations (radiologists, anesthesiologists, cardiologists and surgeons), all having average annual incomes between $300,000 and $350,000. The report also points out that Question 1 would affect fewer than 7 in every thousand households in Massachusetts: about 24,000 out of the more than 3.5 million households that file taxes in Massachusetts each year. Thousands of educators, workers, small business owners, parents, faith leaders, municipal officials, drivers and transit riders, and more than 215 organizations across the state are working together to pass Question 1 on the ballot through the Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign. After years of grassroots advocacy, the state Legislature voted in June 2021 to place the Fair Share Amendment on the November 2022 statewide ballot, where it is now set to be decided on by the voters as Question 1. Background on Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require – in the state constitution – that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Learn more and get involved at FairShareMA.com ### The Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign is led by Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of community organizations, faith-based groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that invests in families, gives everyone the opportunity to succeed, and creates broadly shared prosperity. Since our coalition came together in 2013, we have nearly doubled wages for hundreds of thousands of working people by winning two increases in the state’s minimum wage, won best-in-the-nation earned sick time and paid family and medical leave benefits for workers and their families, and started to build an economy that works for all of us, not just those at the top. Previous Next

< Back A yes vote on Question 1 will expand opportunities for everyone By Elizabeth Warren and Ayanna Pressley Oct 25, 2022 The state would have more resources to support public schools, make public colleges affordable, and upgrade public transportation systems. When we think about the future of Massachusetts, we dream of a state where families can thrive. The Commonwealth is filled with resources and opportunities, but for far too long, deep inequities and disparities have persisted. For years, the wealthiest 1 percent have paid a smaller share of their income in local and state taxes than everyone else, preventing the state from making the investments needed to build opportunity for everyone in all of our communities. But this November we have the opportunity to change the status quo. Question 1 on the November ballot is the Fair Share Amendment, a chance to make sure everyone pays their fair share in taxes. And when everyone chips in equitably, the state will have more resources to support public schools, make public colleges affordable, and upgrade public transportation infrastructure. We encourage everyone to vote yes on Question 1. Students and their families are still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. Schools are finally open, but students, parents, and teachers need more opportunities for individualized support systems, better school buildings, and more wraparound services, especially for mental and emotional health. The Fair Share Amendment will mean more funding for public schools to address long-standing barriers to learning. Our transportation systems, from roads and bridges to the woeful MBTA, are suffering from years of neglect. Road congestion and outdated, diesel-powered buses are literally choking our Commonwealth, and public transit remains unreliable, unaffordable, and inaccessible for too many residents. Voting yes on Question 1 will allow us to repair and replace crumbling physical infrastructure and move us toward a clean, efficient, accessible future. Passing the Fair Share Amendment will also help create more pathways for young people to realize good-paying jobs and success in life, from vocational and technical education to affordable public college that doesn’t bury them in debt. Question 1 is simple: It would create an additional 4 percent tax on the portion of an individual’s annual income above $1 million, and constitutionally dedicate the funds to transportation and public education.The first $1 million of a person’s earnings wouldn’t be affected by this measure. Only the million-and-first dollar is taxed, and then at just an additional four cents on every dollar over a million. Who will pay the most? A full 70 percent of the funds raised would come from those earning more than $5 million a year. Expanding opportunities for people to learn, grow, and thrive is essential to the future of our Commonwealth. That means boosting the chances for children in small towns with small tax bases to get a first-rate education. That means reducing air pollution from cars and bus fumes that are concentrated in communities of color. That means telling every person — not just the wealthy ones — that we’ll invest in their education after high school so that they can develop skills and certifications to build a prosperous future. Even though 99 percent of people in Massachusetts won’t pay a penny more under Question 1, a few billionaires are spending a lot of money to confuse voters. So let’s clear up a few things: Small-business owners wouldn’t be affected by this tax unless their business generates more than $1 million in profit. Last year, less than 1 percent of homes in Massachusetts sold for enough of a gain to be affected by Question 1. Since Question 1 would be written into the state constitution, the state would be constitutionally required to spend this new money on transportation and public education. That spending requirement would be constitutionally protected and could only be undone by the people of Massachusetts, not lawmakers. By funding public schools, colleges, and transportation systems, the Fair Share Amendment will help build greater opportunity in every community in Massachusetts. Our current tax system is unjust and inequitable; those at the very top can afford to pay a little more to help build an economy and a Commonwealth that is safer, more sustainable, and works better for everyone. This November, the choice belongs to voters. We have the chance to say, loud and clear, that we value our young people, we support all of our communities, and that everyone — including the multimillionaires and billionaires — should pay their fair share. Elizabeth Warren is a US senator from Massachusetts, and US Representative Ayanna Pressley represents the Massachusetts Seventh Congressional District. Previous Next

< Back Why are Cambridge councilors backing the 'Fair Share' amendment? Wicked Local | William J. Dowd Apr 20, 2022 Cambridge City Council members do not always agree on the means to address community problems and issues, but they recently unified to publicly endorse a statewide referendum on the November ballot. (Original \ Source) Why are Cambridge councilors backing the 'Fair Share' amendment? Cambridge City Council members do not always agree on the means to address community problems and issues, but they recently unified to publicly endorse a statewide referendum on the November ballot. That question? Should Massachusetts assess a 4% surcharge tax on residents who annually earn over $1 million? The group behind the initiative - Raise Up Massachusetts - has dubbed their proposed referendum "The Fair Share Amendment" because it would amend the commonwealth's constitution and mandate funds go to public education and transportation infrastructure. “The Fair Share Amendment has immense potential to address chronic underinvestment in our public education and transit systems," said Cambridge Councilor Quinton Zondervan. "We need this funding to invest in our students and shift more people towards free, reliable, and accessible public transit.” Major transit, education investments needed The 4% would be assessed in addition to the annual 5% tax rate that taxpayers pay on earned and passive income. Raise Up Massachusetts projects the new tax would go into effect in 2023 and raise an estimated $2.1 billion. "That revenue will be constitutionally required to be spent on transportation and public education," Rachel Plummer, director of Programs and Public Policy for the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee, told councilors in a correspondence supporting the City Council resolution, "specifically 'quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation.'" Plummer added Cambridge could stand to benefit from the extra revenue in those areas — especially in a post-COVID era. "Now more than ever, we need investments in our public schools to help students recover from the effects of the pandemic and to ensure that all students have access to complete and well-rounded education," Plummer said. Tufts University's Center for State Policy Analysis reports the surcharge tax would apply to roughly 21,000 taxpayers. Raise Up's annual revenue projections to hold up if millionaires remain in Massachusetts. "[The 4% tax] could raise a meaningful amount of money, as those few households account for more than one-fifth of all taxable income in the state," reads the state analysis. "However, the millionaires' tax also could have some serious side effects if top earners opt to leave the state or shield their income to avoid paying." Current income tax not getting the job done Still, Cambridge resident Will MacArthur offered testimony, arguing the income tax does not get the job done. "Fundamentally, prosperity in Massachusetts relies on our education and transportation systems — the high-income households who will be taxed under Fair Share owe a substantial measure of their success to past state investments in education and transportation," wrote MacArthur. "These households currently pay lower effective state tax rates than most Massachusetts residents, and passing Fair Share creates a mechanism for them to pay for the systems responsible for their prosperity." The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority carries a backlog of $13 billion for capital projects and notes it will be operating in the red come July 2023. "For years, Massachusetts has divested in infrastructure and education," wrote Cambridge resident Lee Farris on behalf of the Cambridge Residents Alliance. "State income tax, state sales tax and local property are all regressive forms of taxation that disproportionately fall on the poor, the elderly and communities of color." He added, "It's called the millionaires' tax because it will only fall on the very, very rich - people with incomes over $19,000 per week." Massachusetts has weighed in on 11 tax-related ballot questions between 1962 and 2020, and all but two failed: In 1998, Massachusetts voters reduced the annual state tax rate on interest and dividend income from 12% to 5.95% In 2000, Massachusetts voters reduced the annual state income tax rate from 5.9% to the present-day 5% Previous Next

About The Fair Share Amendment In November 2022, Massachusetts voters passed the Fair Share Amendment, choosing a fairer tax system and guaranteeing that the richest one percent will pay more to fund our public schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transit . The Fair Share Amendment established a 4 percent tax on the portion of a taxpayers’ annual income above $1 million (increased annually for inflation), and constitutionally dedicates the funds to be spent only on transportation and public education . Two-and-a-half years in, the Fair Share Amendment is an unqualified success that’s serving as a model for other states that want to invest in quality public services with a fairer tax system. The new tax generated $2.46 billion in its first full fiscal year, and nearly $3 billion in its second full year. That’s more than double the state’s initial expectations, and more than even proponents predicted. Fair Share-funded investments are making Massachusetts more affordable, competitive, and equitable , and helping build a stronger economy that works for all of us . Since the Fair Share Amendment was passed by popular vote on the ballot, Massachusetts saw its largest population increase in 60 years , we were ranked the strongest state economy in the country and the nation's best state to live in (twice!) and we rose 10 spots on the list of fairest state tax systems . And a recent study found that the number of millionaires and ultra-wealthy individuals rose significantly in the two years after the Fair Share Amendment was passed. The following text is the exact language that is now part of our state constitution: To provide the resources for quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation, all revenues received in accordance with this paragraph shall be expended, subject to appropriation, only for these purposes. In addition to the taxes on income otherwise authorized under this Article, there shall be an additional tax of 4 percent on that portion of annual taxable income in excess of $1,000,000 (one million dollars) reported on any return related to those taxes. To ensure that this additional tax continues to apply only to the commonwealth’s highest income taxpayers, this $1,000,000 (one million dollars) income level shall be adjusted annually to reflect any increases in the cost of living by the same method used for federal income tax brackets. This paragraph shall apply to all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.

< Back Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee supports Fair Share Amendment Gazette Net | SCOTT MERZBACH May 6, 2022 The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Fair Share Amendment... (Original / Source) Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee supports Fair Share Amendment AMHERST — A proposed constitutional amendment to apply a 4% tax on Massachusetts households earning more than $1 million annually, with the funds collected to be directed toward public education and transportation, is being endorsed by local school representatives. The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, with members from Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury, on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Fair Share Amendment, also sometimes referred to as the millionaires’ tax. If adopted by state voters at the election on Nov. 8, the measure would impose the new tax. The rest of the state’s taxpayers would continue to pay at the 5% tax rate. Amherst representative Peter Demling, who wrote the resolution, said he wants the committee to be on record as stating that schools, especially regional entities, don’t often get the resources they need. “This November is going to be an opportunity for school committees, cities and towns, teachers and teachers unions to support and unite over a common cause,” Demling said. The resolution states that students “deserve equal access to a high quality, well-rounded and well-staffed public education with a rich and varied academic curriculum, ample opportunity to explore the arts and athletics, and social-emotional resources to support their overall well-being” and that the four cents per $1 for money earned over $1 million “is fair, reasonable and long overdue.” Demling said schools across the state are often not able to meet their budgets due to shortfall in state revenues and the Legislature not providing the promised funds. If this amendment is adopted, though, there will be well over $1 billion in extra revenues for the state, with that money to be directed to education or infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. This could be most critical coming out of pandemic, Demling said, and follows the 2019 adoption of the Student Opportunity Act, though he said the focus of that was largely on low-income students, students of color and English learners. The resolution also quotes Merrie Najimy, the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, who calls the amendment a “once-in-a-lifetime chance to create a Commonwealth where the great potential of all of our students is matched by resources that provide every young person the opportunity to flourish.” A similar endorsement of the Fair Share Amendment has been made by Leverett Town Meeting and the Leverett School Committee. Previous Next

< Back The Berkshire Eagle: Pittsfield: Rally to support Fair Share Amendment The Berkshire Eagle: Jeannie Maschino Apr 1, 2022 Local teachers, students, elected leaders, and community and labor activists from the Berkshires will gather to rally in support of the Fair Share Amendment. Pittsfield: Rally to support Fair Share Amendment ( Source / Original ) Local teachers, students, elected leaders, and community and labor activists from the Berkshires will gather at 2 p.m. Monday, April 4, at Berkshire Community College's Connector building to rally in support of the work being done in the Berkshires to organize and campaign for the Fair Share Amendment. Under the Fair Share Amendment, the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million would raise approximately $2 billion a year for spending on transportation and public education. The Fair Share Amendment will appear on the November 2022 statewide ballot. The event is hosted by the Berkshire Fair Share Committee and will feature a speaking program and opportunities to learn more about the Fair Share Amendment, the campaign, and upcoming events, including the first area canvass slated for Saturday, April 23. Previous Next